Green Spirit and Narissa Set to Collide in Prix de la Grotte

A thrilling day of racing is on the horizon at ParisLongchamp, accompanied by domestic action from Ffos Las. The highly anticipated Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp features a captivating matchup between the dynamic duo Green Spirit and Narissa. Christopher Head trains Green Spirit, who made significant strides last season with four consecutive wins, including victories at the Group 3 and Group 2 levels. Although she was defeated by Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc Day, she is expected to set the standard on her return, ridden by Maxime Guyon. Narissa, who trailed Green Spirit on three occasions last year, including a third-place finish in the aforementioned Group 1, needs to have made progress over the winter to close the gap. The pair are currently 8/1 favorites for the French 1000 Guineas. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who has won the last two renewals of this race, also fields Anashkaya, partnered with Christophe Soumillon. Evolutionist, trained by Karl Burke, cannot be overlooked after a superb third-place finish in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. All eyes will be on Nighttime as he puts his Classic claims to the test in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau. The Christopher Head-trained colt had a successful two-year-old campaign, scoring three wins and finishing with an excellent second place behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. This form makes him a likely favorite, and the step up to a mile is expected to suit him. Regal Resolve poses the main threat for Francis-Henri Graffard's yard, having won two of his three starts, including a pair of lesser races on the all-weather at Chantilly. Elastic has a fitness edge over his rivals after claiming a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud last month, while Campacite boasts top-level placed form for Jean-Claude Rouget. A competitive field is expected in the Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle, featuring Doujadou and Into The Blue among 11 contenders. Rebecca Curtis, who won this prize last season with Newton Tornado, has Doujadou, who has shown promise and is expected to improve with racing. Into The Blue, a newcomer for the Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville combination, boasts an impressive pedigree and should be monitored in the market. The Sam Thomas-trained Knead A Win is top-rated and has solid claims if fit enough after an absence. The Group 3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp has seen notable winners in the past, including Calandagan in 2024. This year, Spece Waltz is well-fancied for Andre Fabre, while Joseph O'Brien's Hardy Warrior is of interest. Map Of Stars and Marquisat are likely to be popular among bettors for the Listed Prix Lord Seymour, with James Doyle riding the former for Wathnan Racing. On home soil, the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in the Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.